TOWSON, Md. – The Elizabethtown College men's soccer team has four players earn Landmark All-Conference accolades, announced by the organization Wednesday morning.
Senior Ed Rainey highlighted selections for the Blue Jays with his second career First Team selection and his third overall. Juniors Ryan Hepler and Mehluko Letsoalo and freshman Pedro Guizardi were all first-time award winners, each earning Second Team honors.
A Sewell, N.J. native, Rainey has started every game of his career and has nearly played in every minute. He guided a defense that was second in the conference in goals-against average (0.91) and goals against (16). Rainey also steered the Etown defense against #4 Messiah, becoming one of only two teams this season to hold the Falcons scoreless.
Hepler had a breakout year offensively for the Blue Jays, helping the team to an appearance in the Landmark Conference semifinals. A native of Mountville, Pa., Hepler led Etown with five goals on the year. He was ninth in the conference in goals scored and tied for 13th in points (10). Hepler was also third in the Landmark and first on the team in game winning goals, pushing the Blue Jays to victory with strikes against Bridgewater and Alvernia.
An important piece and leader in the Etown midfield, Letsoalo takes home All-Conference honors after a tireless effort this season. The Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa native was second on the team in assists (3) and fifth in points (5). Letsoalo was one of four players to start all 17 games for the Blue Jays this season.
Joining Letsoalo in the midfield, Guizardi becomes the first freshman since Rainey to capture All-Conference honors. Tied for first on the team in points (10), first in assists (4) and tied for second in goals, the Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil native came on strong late in the season, tallying five points over the final five games of the season. Each of his three goals this season came against conference opponents.
Elizabethtown finished the season with a 9-6-2 record and reached the Landmark Conference tournament for the sixth consecutive season. The Blue Jays return 28 player's next season.
